Pneumatically-played musical instrument.



G. K. HENNIG.

PNEUMATICALLY PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

lAPPLICATION FILED OCT. ZI. 19H.

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G\ K. HENNG.

PNEUMATICALLY PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATloN FILED @c1227. 1914.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE GUSTAV KARL HENNIG, OF BHLITZ-EHRENBERG,NEAR LEIPZIG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM l0]? LUDWIG HUPFELDAKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F -BHLITZ-EHREN- BERG, NEAR LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

PNEUMATICALLY-PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUs'rAv-KARL HENNIG, asubject of the King of Saxony, residing at 1 Bielastrasse,Bhlitz-E'hrenberg, near Leipzig, Germany, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in and Relating to Pneumatically-Played MusicalInstruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention.

This invention relates to accentuating or emphasizing apparatus forpneumatically played musical instruments of the kind comprising a numberof throttling devices. The various throttling devices of emphasizingapparatus according to this invention are directly connected in parallelto the main suction chamber of the playing apparatus. The throttlingdevices may or may not be dependent upon each other'. The wind pressuresproduced by the various throttling devices are relative to the windpressures produced by the main suction chamber.

In the case ofthrottling devices which are dependent upon each other thearrangement may be such that a still greater Wind pressure than thatnormally produced by the particular adjustment of the throttlingmechanism for the time being, may be produced for the purpose of specialemphasis. lffloreover, in some cases the wind lpressure produced by oneof the throttling devices may be varied as may be desired, independentlyof the wind pressure produced by the other throttling devices.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrates oneconstruction of emphasizing apparatus according to my invention, and

F ig. 2 is a view similar' to Fig. 1, illustrating another construction.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is the suction chamber for producing ordinarywind, and has a double valve whose upper large valve plate 2 controlscommunication to a chamber 3, provided with a connection 4 leading tothe customary suction devices, not shown.

The suction chamber a. communicates with a. plurality of tonecontrolling chambers, (there being two such chambers f and g shown inFig. 1,) by means of suitable connections 9 and 9 respectively, whoseinlet openings rZ and e are more or less closed or The valve I) ismounted on an actuating rod b supported in a stationary bearing 11,through which the rod is slidable. The rod b is pivoted at 12 to a leverb2 whose lower end is pivoted to one end of a link 13, the other end ofwhich link is pivoted at 14 to the movable member h2 of an exhaustingbellows it. f

The bellows t is connected by an exhaust conduit h to an extension f ofthe tone modulating chamber The valve o which controls the tension insuction chamber g is provided with a valve rod o which is pivotallyconnected at 15 .to a lever c2. The lower end of this lever c2 ispivoted to one end of a link 16 whose other end is pivoted to themovable member 2 of an exhaustingbellows z' that has communication withthe interior of the tone modulating chamber g through a port orequivalent connection 2". The upper end of lever c2 is connected by alink c3 to lever It" provided with a handle 17.

The upper end of lever b2 for actuating the valve 7) is also pivotallyconnected by a link b3 to this same lever 70.

The lever 7c is pivoted to one end of a rod Z whose other end ispivotally connected to the movable member n of the smaller chamber n ofan unsymmetrical double pneumatic n 0. The rod Z is operated either bythe double pneumatic or by hand in a customary manner, as indicated bythe hand lever 17.

The double pneumatic n 0 has a middle member 1S that is movable and hasa port or passage 19 connecting the larger chamber 0 with the smallerchamber n.

The stationary member 20 of the double pneumatic n o has two conduits 21and 22, the vone 22 entering the stationary member 20 directly oppositethe port 19 and serving primarily for controlling the wind in thesmaller' chamber n, while the other conduit 21, which is displacedtherefrom, serves primarily for controlling the wind in the largerchamber 0.

The chambers n and 0 are controlled by the note sheet by any suitable orwell known devices, and I have illustrated by way of example the conduit21 leading to a valve ne i ,esente chamber 23 having a port 2a leadingto the atmosphere, and a port 25 leading to an exhaust chamber 2G.

A valve p has a stem 27 seating on a membrane 28 whose upper side isunder the aotion of the exhaust in chamber 26 and whose lower side has asmall bleeder passage 29, also connecting he under side of the membranewith the chamber 26.

The space below the membrane 28 is connected by a tube 30 with atracker' bar T. The conduit 22 is controlled by a like'valve operatedthrough a tube 3l, also connected to the tracker bar T. Another likevalve t controlled through a tube 32 connected to a tracker bar will behereinafter referred to in connection with the element it controls.

rthese three valves are all alike and of well known construction, sothat their operation need not be specifically described, and they alloperate in connection with the same exhaust chamber 26.

rlfliis chamber 26 is connected by a conduit 33 with the main windchamber a or is otherwise exhausted to place tension in chamber 26.

The movable member 7a2 of the exhaust bellows 7L is connected to aspring h3 under tension secured to any suitable support, as 34, and themovable member 2 of the exhaust bellows is connected to a similarstronger spring 3 and is also connected by a link 35 to an actuatingpneumatic s that is connected by a tube 36 to the aforementioned valvet.

The tone modulating chambers f and g are connected in parallel to themain chamber a, and between these modulating chambers, specificallybetween the chamber g and the extension 7" of the chamber f are conduitsA and B, leading` to two groups of primary pneumatics of well knownconstruction, and not illustrated. rlhe conduits are under control ofdouble valves g/ and z respectively, that effect the distribution ofwind of the desired tension to the groups of primary pneumatics throughthe conduits A. and B.

The upper plates of these valves y and e, which control the admission ofthe stronger tension from the extension f of the tension chamber f tothe conduits A and B are freely movable on their spindles.

The valves 1/ and e are controlled by the music sheet, and are operatedby primary pneumatics fw and fc respectively, under the control ofsuitable double valves u and a; respectively, the valve u controllingthe primary pneumatic w through conduit 37, and the valve e controllingthe primary pneumatic m through the conduit 3S. rl`he valves u and ooperate in connection with a tension chamber 89 connected to the mainsuction chamber c, or that is otherwise exhausted.

rlhe valves u and o are similar to valves p Q and t previously referredto, and are provided with tubes 40 and l1 connected to tracker bar T.

The operation is as follows:

When no special emphasis is desired, the wind produced by chambers f andg is weaker than that produced by the chamber a and the wind produced bythe chamber f is as much weaker than that produced by the chamber g asthe spring is weaker than the spring 3, because these springs, with theforces they exert, which as hereinbefore stated are different, act withdifferent effect in opposition to the suction action in the chambers fand g. Supposing the wind nessure produced by the chamber 7 were tenmillimeters of mercury and that produced by the chamber g fifteenmillimeters, all the notes operated from the chamber f would have a tonestrength corresponding to ten millimeters wind pressure and thoseactuated from the chamber g a tone strength corresponding to fifteen.millimeters wind pressure. ylhe wind pressure in chamber .ft may beassumed as twenty millimeters.

lf the valves p and Q be opened for the purpose of exhausting or closingthe controlling bellows part 0, or if the hand lever l?" which forms asubstitute for said bellows be correspondingly moved, the link Z willmove a maximum distance to the right in accordance with the movements ofthe bellows parts o and n. The valve c will therefore be moved in adirection to more r fully open and, by means of the transmissionmechanism comprising link Zr, lever 722 and rod b, the valve o will alsobe moved in its opening direction. The throttling bel.- lows z' and 7Lwill therefore be exhausted or closed more nearly according to themovement of the corresponding valve. The exhaustion or closing of thethrottlingbel- `lows additionally stresses the springs i3 and 7a3, withthe result that there is produced in the two chambers and g an increaseof the vacuum corresponding to the additional stress placed upon thesprings. Although the vwind pressure produced by the two chambers f andg varies in itself, yet the same ratio of such pressure will always bemaintained in both of said chambers, as the springs k3 and s are ofdifferent strengths. With the exhaustion or collapsing of the twobellows 7L and t' the two valves b and c will be again simultaneouslymoved back to their original positions. lt will be understood thereforethat as the controlling bellows part o alone, or the bellows part nalone, or both bellows parts together, are operated by their valves ,oand g the movement of the two valves and c, and consequently also theexhaustion or closing of the throttling bel lows 7L and z' and thestressing of the springs 7a3 and 3 on which the pressure in the twochambers ,"3 and g is also be effected.

The primary pnoun'iatics fw and a which, through the valves g/ andcontrol the distribution of the wind pressure to the different groups ofnotes, are always subjected to suction when the valves u and c areclosed and are therefore then exhausted or closed, so that the valves yand shut the chambers l' from the conduits and B.

lf the valve u be opened, as shown, the pi 'mary pneumatic fu; willexpand or open as atmospheric air flows therein through conduit 3T andthe valve g/ will thereby be forced downward, this downward movementbeing assisted by the more powerful suction in the chamber g. rlhe upperplate of the valve y/ will be drawn down by the vacuum in the chamber gand the cha nber 7" will therefore be cut olf from the cb amber g. rlhevalve 11/ will then allow the group of notes or notes associatedtherewith through conduit El to play with the higher wind pressureproduced by chamber g, while the other notes or group of note-sassociated with the valve o through conduit B are actuated by the windpressure produced by the chamber lf the valve u be opened, the bellowsa: will be filled with atmospheric air and the valve e will be operatedin a similar manner to that described with reference to the valve y, sothat the group of notes, or notes assoac'ain dependent, will iated withthis valve will be played with the strength of the wind pressureproduced by the chamber g.

lf neither of the valves u or o be opened, then the vali/'es y and` cshut both of the conduits il. and B off from the chamber g.

Owing to the vacuum in the chamber f the upper plates of the valves yand e, which are freely movable on their spindles, are seated so looselythat the group of notes or the notes associated with the valves "y and.e are nevertheless actuated by the wind produced by the chamber f, asthe chamber g is cut off from the chamber and the conduits A and B bythe lower plates of these vvalves which are drawn upward by theexhausted or closed bellows -w and As has already been stated, thenumber of if'alves je/ and is not limited to two, but depends on thenumber of the groups into which the notes are divided. A.. correspondingarrznigement may be provided for each individual note. if desired.

lf :it be desi ed to specially empl asize certain notes of those alreadyemphasized and actuated by the wind pressure produced by the chamber 57this is effected by means of the valve t which controls the bellows sand is i .if controlled from the tracker board T. Instead of employingthe valve t, the bellows s may be controlled by a passage opened orclosed by the finger. Upon the bellows s being exhausted or closed byany controlling mechanism the pull of the spring 3 is thereby augmented.By this means the throttling bellows e' will be powerfully exhausted,the valve b will thereby be more widely opened and an increased windpressure augmented by the suctional action of the bellows a will beinstantly produced by the chamber g.

The notes actuated by wind pressure produced in the chamber g will.therefore be instantaneously more heavily struck. The ratio of windpressure produced in the chanibers f and g will therefore at thatinstant be altered. The longer the valve t or its equivalent can exertits action the more intense will be the emphasis.

ln the construction of apparatus shown in Fi 2 the action issubstantially the same as that of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, only inthis case the two throttling chambers and g are not dependent upon eachother, as in l. The tlnfottling action can therefore be varied as may bedesired in each chamber. llach tbrottling chamber is controlled by acorresponding iuisyuninctrical double bellows n 0, and n, o,respectively, and the throttling action depends on wiether the bellows no, or the bellows n 0', works, or whether both bellows work together.

Special emphasizing bellows are provided for each chamber, namely thebellows a for the chamber g and the bellows sEL for the chamberTherefore with this apparatus any desired notes or groups of notes maybe specially emphasized from both chambers. The valves and other partsare in like manner duplicated. That is to say, both valve chests 26 andQ6 are connected through conduit 33 to chamber a and the valves arenecessarily duplicated at 79 o and t with corresponding pipe connections30, 31, and 32 to the tracker bar, the duplicated parts being in mostinstances indicated by the affix a to the reference character.

.lt will be noted that the construction is such that by the movement ofthe rod l the valve or c anc the bellows pertaining to the chambercontrolled by said valve is operated oppositely to the pertainingbellows /L or vi, that is to say, when the valve c is opened by a pullon rod Z the bellows t is collapse l, and vice versa; the bellows ahowever, opposes, when desired. the collapsing of the bellows The sameis true for both valves and c and their pertaining mechanisms in bothfigures.

ln Fig. l., however, both bellows .la and i are connected to the samelever le', so that in addition to the above statement the movement ofone bellows will also be dependent upon the n'ioif'ement of the other,and thereby the tension in one tone chamber will vary to an extent withthe tension in the other,

so that the ratio oli the tensions in the two chambers remainssubstantially constant although the tension in one chamber rai-ies,

l claiml. lone control meel anism for pneumatically actuated musicalinstruments, comprising a main suction chamber, a plurality ot tonecontrolling chambers in which exist different tensions and connected inparallel to said main suction chamber, a conduit arranged between thetwo chambers and means to admit the tension in one or the other tonecontrol chambers to said conduit.

Tone control mechanism for pneumatically actnated musical instruments,comprising tone controlling chambers in which eK- ist different tensionsand connected to a conduit arranged between the chambers, means toconnect the chambers singly and at will to said conduit to admit thetension in said chamber that has been connected to said conduit, andmeans for each chamber to temporarily increase the tension therein andthereby accentuate the tone being played under the tension existing inthe chamber for the time being and connected to said conduit.

3. rllene controlling mechanism for pneumatically actuated musicalinstruments, comprising a main suction chamber, tone controllingchambers connected thereto in parallel and in which exist differenttensions a Yalve in each chamber controlling the connection with themain chamber, note sheet controlled mechanism for actuating said valves,bellows for said tone controlling chambers maintained under differenttensions, note sheet controlled means to increase the tensions ot saidbellows, a conduit arranged between the parallel connected chambers andmeans to singly connect said chambers and conduit.

el, rfone control mechanism for pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, comprisingl a main tension chamber, tone controllingchambers connected thereto, a valve contrellirng` the connectionV ofeach chamber with the main chamber', a spring expanded bellowsconmiunicating with each tone controlling chamber, mechanism tosimultaneously actuate the valve and bellows pertaining to a tonecontrolling chamber, a conduit arranged be 'we-n the tone controllingchambers and means to singly connect said conduit and a tone controllingchamber.

5. rllene control mechanism lier pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, comprising a main tension chamber, tone controllingchambers connected thereto, a valve controlling the connection of eachchamber with the main chamber, a spring expanded bellows communicatingwith each tone controlling chamber, mechanism to simultaneouslyoppositely actuate the valve and bellows pertaining to a tonecontrolling chamber, means to retard the' collapsing of said i ,sasha-ebellows` a conduit arranged between the tone cont-rolling chambers andmeans to singly connect said conduit and tone controlling chamber.

6. lone control mechanism for pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, comnrising a main tension chamber, tone controllingchambers independently connected thereto and having at differenttensions, valves controlling the connection of said chambers with themain chamber, mechanisms to vary the tension in the individual tonecontrolling chambers, means interconnecting said mechanisms to maintainthe ratio of the tensions in said chambers substantially constant, aconduit arranged between the tone controlling chambers, and means tosingly connect said chambers and conduit at will.

7. rllone control mechanism for pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, comprising a main tension chamber, tone controlling`chambers independently connected thereto and having at differenttensions, valves controlling the connection of said chambers with themain chamber, mechanisms to vary the tension in the individual tonecontrolling chambers, means interconnecting said mechanisms to maintainthe ratio of the tensions in said chambers substantially const-ant, aconduit arranged between the tone controlling chambers, means to singlyconnect said chambers and conduit at will, and means to increase theten'- sion in one ot said tone controlling chambers at will.

8. ln emphasizing apparatus for a pneumatic player for a musicalinstrument, a main suction chamber, a number of throttling chambers, athrottle valve corresponding to each throttling chamber adapt-ed toplace the corresponding throttling chamber in communication with themain suction chamber, a tracker board, air conduits arranged betweensaid throttling chambers, note sheet controlled valves to singly connectthe throttling chambers with a conduit, lever mechanism connecting thethrottle valves of said throttling chambers, bellows associated withsaid. lever mechanism and in connection with said throttling chambers,springs connected to said bellows, and a controlling device connected tosaid bellows..

9. ln emphasizing apparatus for a pneumatic player for a musicalinstrument, a main suction chamber, throttling` chambers, a throttlevalve for each throttling chamber controlling its communication withsaid main suction chamber, a tracker board, air conduits arrangedbetween the throttling chambers, note sheet controlled valves to singlyconnect a throttling chamber and conduit, lever mechanism connectingsaid throttle valves, bellows associated with said lever mechanism andin connection with said throttling chambers, springs connected to saidbellows, cmitrolling` bellows controlled from said tracker board, andmechanism connecting said controlling bellows to said lever mechanism.

10. In emphasizing apparatus for a pneumatic player for a musicalinstrument, a main suction chamber, a number of throttling chambers, athrottle valve for each throttling chamber adapted to control thecommunication with said main suction chamber, a tracker board, airconduits arranged between the throttling. chambers, note sheetcontrolled valves to singly connect a conduit and throttling chamber,le-

ver mechanism connecting said throttle valves, bellows associated withsaid lever mechanism and in connection with said throttling chambers,springs'connected to said bellows, a controlling device connected tosaid bellows, and an independent controlling device corresponding to oneof said throttling chambers.

11. Tone controlling mechanism for pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, comprising a main 'tension chamber, throttling chambersunder different tensions connected thereto, a throttle valve for eachchamber, a conduit, means to singly connect, at will, one of saidthrottling chambers and conduit, mechanism to manually or automaticallyactuate said throttle valves, a bellows associated witi and connected toeach throttling chamber, mechanism to maintain the ratio of tensionbetween the chambers substantially constant and mechanism toautomatically increase the tension in one chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV KARL HENNIG.

TWitnesses E. GRUDTNER, RUDOLPH FRIGKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patenti, Washington, D. C.

